Sucks-2
“It’s okay. I can handle him as I did before,” I tell her as I toy with my engagement ring. I never take this off even Oli was long gone. It reminds me of him.
“That was three years ago, K.”
“four years ago, Lizzy,” I correct her.
“But you will work with him eight hours a day. Five days a week.”
“And?” I ask.
“You’re both kids at that time, and it’s been years since the last time you two see each other,” she pushes.
“What’s your point? And we’re not kids this time, Lizzy. We’re both adults.”
“When was the last time you check his social media account?” she asks with scrutinizing looks.
“Almost four years ago,” I answer slowly with hesitation in my voice. “After he left. Why?” I never checked anything has to do with him after that. I know his password, but I never tried even to check if he changed it or not.
“See? That’s what I mean,” she says before sipping her green tea.
“He still hates me, and I’m sure he will make my life in living hell. Ms. Mallory, make my coffee, bring my dry clean, send this, do this, arrange dinner with, fax this, do my presentation, oh, did my whore call? Go fetch my dog, feed ducks, get me a copy of Jack Reacher’s first edition. Oh, Ms. Mallory, did I tell you—”
Lizzy laughs until she turns red while holding her flat stomach as I mimick her brother’s voice.
“He might have changed his accent into a bloody Brit.”
“Meh, he’s still the same annoying Bash, but I love him, you know? I hope he’ll break up with that bitch Dana before he comes back. I don’t like her for my brother.”
My heart has been stabbed like a thousand times every time she mentioned that name.
I hate the letter D. Ugh!
“It’s all my fault that he hates me, Lizzy, and I can’t blame him if he will torture me at work,” I say guiltily. I’ve cried to sleep when he literally threw me out of his life that night. I was beyond broken.
“I don’t think he is that immature to mix the misunderstanding you had before with work. He’s grown up, K.”
“I don’t think he’s even pleased to see me. Does he know that I’ll be his temporary assistant?”
She shakes her head.
I text Lizzy that I couldn’t make it to the welcome party because I had to visit Oli for our 1st anniversary. I know it sounds lame because I went in the morning, and the party was not until almost midnight. But to be honest, I’m not ready to face him. I still feel guilty until now.
I look at the mirror one last time. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I’m bracing myself to whatever Bash is going to throw against me as soon as he figures out that I’ll be working with him for eight hours every day for weekdays. I’ve been practicing my speech since yesterday after arranging his schedule.
I get out of the ladies’ room while wiping my sweaty palms on my skirt. I’m breathing deeply like every ten seconds.
What’s wrong with me?
Pretend like he is your new boss and is an arrogant prick who hates women, K.
A text from Lizzy.
LIZZY: He’s in the elevator now.
Crap!
After a few minutes, I’m done arranging the file, and that’s when the door swings open. When I think I am ready to face him again, it’s total bullshit. I’m never going to be ready. Ever.
Relax. Just play cool.
No, I can’t!
Oh, boy! He isn’t the young Bash, my best friend once for years. He’s changed a lot! I should have followed what Lizzy has told me. To check out his social media, or likely to stalk him so that I won’t be swooning in front of him and front of my effing boss.
Bash Hughes is hotter than the molten lava and like an effing sun in summer!
Our gazes meet. There’s a surprising look in his gray eyes.
Doesn’t he suppose to know that I’m his personal maid now?
He calls my name Trinity. He’s the only one who calls me by that name, and if I’m being honest, I really miss it. I miss that coming from his mouth. I miss his voice. I have to blink many times to push the thought out of my head.
I greet him. To call him by that name, it feels like I just swallow a fish. And I hate fish. It’s nasty.
His beautiful brows furrow.